On Wednesday night, a bus crash in Algeria killed a player and coach from top-tier team Mouloudia Club El Bayadh, causing the national football organization (Faf) to postpone all games.
The disaster killed goalkeeper Zakaria Bouziani, 27, and assistant coach Khalid Muftah, according to the country’s main news agency.
According to local media, the team was on its way north to Tizi Ouzou to play JS Kabylie in a league game on Friday when the bus carrying the players overturned near Tiaret in north-west Algeria.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune issued a statement in which he expressed “great pain and sorrow” over the tragedy and sent condolences to the victims’ families.
The club stated on social media that the team’s other injured members were in stable condition.
“Following the tragic accident which left the club and family of MC El Bayadh in mourning, the Algerian Football Federation has decided to suspend all football events planned this weekend,” according to a statement issued by the Faf.
Faf has also postponed the draw for the following two rounds of the Algerian Cup, which was set for December 26.
El Bayadh are sixth in Algeria’s Ligue 1 standings with 15 points from ten games, 12 points behind leaders MC Alger.
Bouziani had appeared in two league games this season.
BBC